Gemotions

He stared at the email, the words blurring before his eyes. His breath hitched in his chest. His heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. He’d poured his soul into this novel, this story. It was deeply personal, drawn from the well of his own experiences.

The link in the email was to a website. He clicked it, his hand trembling so badly it took him three attempts to get it right. There, on the screen, was the complete text of his manuscript. Under a different name. The same characters, the same plot twists, even the same grammatical errors.

He felt paralyzed, unable to move, his entire body locked in place. He felt as if the world had tilted on its axis.